Diaz compain



April 5, 1966 .1. E DIAZ coMPAlN 3,244,560

APPARATUS FOR DIFFUSING CANE OR BEET SUGAR 2 Sheets-Shea?l 1 Filed April 23, 1963 April 5, 1966 J. E. DIAZ coMPAlN 3,244,560

APPARATUS FOR DIFFUSING CANE OR BEET SUGAR Filed April 23, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zig/4 United States Patent O 3,244,560 APPARATUS FOR DIFFUSING CANE R BEET SUGAR Jeronimo Enrique Diaz Compain, P). Box 370,

New York 25, N.Y. Filed Apr. 23, 1963., Ser. No. 275,144 4 Claims. (Cl. 127-6) rihis invention relates to Van apparatus for passing finely cut sugar cane chips or beet sugar chips disposed in a plurality of cells carried on a conveyor which is moved through elongated tanks countercurrently to the flow of liquid through the tanks. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus of the character described wlherein means are provided for maintaining the chips largely submerged in the liquid during passage through the tanks together with means for admitting chips to the cells, changing the positions of the chips in the cells and discharging the treated chips from the appa-ratus.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and in which t-he separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side sectional view of a difusor apparatus according to my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view taken along A--A of of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view taken along B-B of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 isan enlarged View taken from C-C of FIGURE 4 showing fragmentary details illustrating -how the vertical walls of the maceration tank are cleaned;

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating :the proc- -ess of circulating the diluted j-uices as products of the imbibition.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the manner in which the roller conveyor chai-n is attached to a cell.

Considered from one aspect, the present invention relates to an apparatus for diffusing sugar cane comprising in combination:

(a) two interconnected maceration tanks,

(b) an endless conveyor passing through said tanks,

(c) said conveyor supporting a plurality of cells,

(d) both the tops and bottoms of said cells being open,

(e) means for rotating said cells through an angle of 180 in thecourse of their passage from one maceration tank to another,

(f) inlets and outlets for liquid and chips in said macerav tion tanks, and

( g) ymeans for circulating liquid between said two interconnected maceration tanks.

Referring t0 FIGURE l, a main housing or shell 1 encloses an upper maceration tank 9 and a lower maceratiion tank 9', said tanks being interconnected at their ends in a certain way. A plurality of beams (such as 2,4, 25 and 26) support the tanks 9 and 9'. A removable cover 29 may be provided adjacent one end and this cover may be removed as desi-red (e.g., for repairs) by unfastening the bolted joints 27 and 2S. In FIGURES 3 and 4 the sides 51 and 51' of the mace-ration tanks are designated.

An endless conveyor passes through tanks 9 and 9', the conveyor preferably comprising a chain 5 (and 5') or the like, driven by sprockets 4 and 4 located on shafts 2 and 2' which are supported by bearings 3 and 3 (3' being of the take up type). The malin drive shaft 2 is driven by means of a motor 7 and a worm gear reducer 6. The

3,244,560 Patented Apr. 5, 1966 ice beam 7 is part of the structure that supports the moto-r 6, shaft 2 and bearing 3. Oh-ains 5 and 5' can -be of any type well known in the industrial world for heavy duty use. As will be seen in FIGURE 4, the side 51' of the maceration tank 9 is spaced below the side 52 of the cover 24 (see FIGURE 3) so as to accommodate the inward extension of the elements associated with the conveyor chain. Upper side portion 52 is supported by the bracket 53 which is in turn attached to beam 45.

Referring to FIGURES 3 and 4 it will be seen Ithat the roller chain conveyors 5 and 5' are supported and guided by sets of rails 46-47 and 46-47 respectively. T-hese rails are of generally rectangular cross section. In partcula-r, in FIGURE 4 it will be seen that the rectangular rails 46 and 47 are in turn maintained in place by beams 44 and 45. When rails 46 and 47 o1 46 and 47 become unduly worn due to prolonged use they can be readily and easily replaced. The upper rails 47 and 47 are quite important since they serve to prevent the conveyor chain from jumping when there is an unexpected build -up of material or rust on the bottom of the maceration tank. In FIGURE 4 it will be seen that the column 48 and angle brackets 49, 50 and S0 serve to strengthen and reinforce |the previously described elements of the apparatus.

The rolier conveyor 5-5' supports a plurality of cells S and 8 at a point intermediate the top and bottom of each cell. One manner of support is clearly shown in FIG- URE 7, but other arrangements may be used. Horizontally extending roller conveyor chain pins 82 having an integral flange 83 (acting as a head or bolt) which passes through a hole 83 in the side wall S1 of the cell (and also through a hole in reinforcing plate 84). Pin 82 is threaded on its inner end and can thereby be rmly fastened to cell side wall 81 with the aid of a washer 8S and a nut $2. In FIGURE 7, the roller component 100 and the side bar components 102 and 104 of the roller conveyor chain are shown in detail. A cotter pin hole 106 is also shown. Reinforcing plate 84 is preferably welded to the side wall 81. The roller conveyor chain is preferably attached to opposite sides of the cells at or near their mid point or center of gravity.

The cells 8 and 8 preferably have only four sides. As is perhaps best seen in FIGURE 4, the back and front sides of each cell contain wire mesh sections 79 and 79' (within rectangular sections and 80') so that it is possible for liquid to flow through each cell (in a direction -countercurrent to the movement of the cells themselves). The lateral sides of the cells are preferably closed and do not contain any wire mesh. The lateral sides of each cell preferably contain vertical Scrapers 6i) (see FIGURES 4 and 5) which serve to both clean the sides of the maceration tanks and provide su'cient supplementary sealing action between adjacent cells to cause the diluted juices to be forced through wire mesh sections 79 and 79 as the cells and liquid move countercurrently with respect to each other. FIGURE 5 shows how the Scrapers 60 are attached to a cell (eg. by means of a plate 61 and a bolt 62).

The cells are preferably of trapezoidal shape when viewed from the side. The tops and bottoms of said cells are open, except to the extent that the bottoms of the maceration tanks 9 and 9 serve as transient botto-ms for the cells when they are carrying cane chips (the bottoms of the cells being 1 to 2 inches above the bottom of the maceration tanks).

In tank 9 the cells move from right to left. When thel ycells (such as cells 30, 31 and 32 in FIGURE 6) reach to right) they again make an 180 turn before re-entering tank 9.

A feeder 11 is designed to feed cane chips to cells 8 as the cells pass between points 12 and 13, the chain 5 turning down at point 14 (see FIGURE 1) so that the open tops of the cells will touch each other to thus minimize the space between adjacent cells. Most of the cane chips introduced through feeder 11 will fall into the open tops of the cells 8, but if some chips do fall down between the cells no harm will be done since the fallen chips will be carried along by the Scrapers (described in detail later). Feeder 11 can be rotated by the motor 11 at a variable speed.

The overflows or outlets 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 are for controlling the level of the liquid in the maceration tanks 9 and 9. Liquid inlets 21, 22 and 23 are provided in the top of maceration tank 9 for the introduction of hot water or water diluted with juices. In FIGURES 4 and 5 an outlet 16 is shown in greater detail to consist of sides 56 and 56', and front 57.

Line 55 (see FIGURE 4) is the approximate level of the dilute juice in the tanks 9 and 9 and this level is governed by the horizontal overflow 55 opening which with sides 56 and 57 form the vertical canal 16 with its bottom 58. The overflows or outlets 16, 17, 18, 19, 2G are circulated by pumps 64, 67, 71, 73 and 75 respectively through heaters 65, 68, 72, 74 and 76 respectively to spaced points in tanks 9 und 9 so that the pumped and heated liquid Will `Contact the cane chips in cells.

Adjacent the top and bottom of each cell there are provided longitudinally disposed cleaning Scrapers ttl and 40. These Scrapers are on the end of arms being fixed on centers 42 and 42' by means of bolts 43 and 43. With the arrangement shown in the drawings it will be seen (FIGURE 3) that with regard to cells 8 (in maceration tank 9), as they move from right to left, the Scrapers 40 will do the work of cleaning the bottom of the tank, while with regard to cells 8 in tank 9 the Scrapers 40' will perform the same function. Scrapers 4d are inactive in tank 9 and Scrapers 4@ are inactive in tank 9. The scrapers are preferably divided into two or more parts acrosss the width of the cells, as for instance by a divider 59, which can also serve to add rigidity to the cell across its width.

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic sketch which is intended 'to' illustrate the circulation of the hot water and diluted juices. The sprockets 4 and 4 cause the chains 5 and 5' which support the cells 8 and 8' to move. The cells are filled with the cane chips by means of the rotary feeder 11 and thereafter the cells fitted with chips dip into the maceration tank 9, which contains dilute juices circulating countercurrently to said cells.

The lower maceration tank 9 is initially lled with liquid to the desired level by means of the sprinkler or atomizer 63 for imbibition of hot water. The hot water from sprinkler 63 (about 25 to 35% water) will how in a right-to-left direction through the cells to the overllow 16 and from there down the vertical channel 16 to pump 64. Pump 64 passes the dilute juices through the heater 65 so as to obtain the proper temperature, and the heated liquid is then pumped over the cane chips which are inside the cell passing by point 66.

From point 66, the dilute juices will flow from right to left through more cells to the horizontal overliow 17, to the vertical canal 17'; to the pump 67, through the heater 68 to obtain the proper temperature and then over the cane chips which are inside of the cells as they pass point 69.

From point 69 the dilute juice will flow from right-toleft through cells to the horizontal overflow 18, to the vertical canal 70, the pump 71, through heater 72 to obtain the required temperature and then over the cane chips which are inside of cells that travel from right to left on maceration tank 9 at point 21.

From point 21 the dilute juice will flow from left to right through cells to the horizontal overow 19 to the vertical canal 19 and from there the pump 73 will pass the dilute juices through the heater 74 to obtain the proper temperature to the imbibition and then over the cane chips that are inside of the cells when they pass under by the point 22.

From point 22 the dilute juice will flow from left to right through the cells to the horizontal overflow 20 then to the vertical canal 20 and from there the pump 75 Will pass the dilute juice through the heater 76 to obtain the proper temperature for imbibition and then over the cane chips that are inside of the cells when they pass under the point 23.

From point 23 the dilute juices will flow from left-toright through more cells to the horizontal overflow of the discharge 21 on their way to the boiling house. These dilute juices will contain over 98% of the total sucrose in the cane and up to 99.5% when disintegrated cane chips have been used in the ditfusor that have passed through a tirst mill of an existing tandem where said existing first mill or first Crusher, generally will obtain an initial extraction of 70% to 75% of the total sucrose in the cane, leaving, therefore, only 25 to 30% of the sucrose in the cane chips to be acted upon by the diffusor. This operation can be characterized as combined grinding and diffusion. The advantage of such an operation will be that after passing the cane through a first mill on its way to the diffuser, the cane chips have most of their cells broken open so that they retain part of the jui (in a sponge-like fashion) although at least a portion of the cells will remain intact. The hot water will dissolve sucrose from the broken cells and sucrose will be removed from the intact cells by osmosis.

Circulating liquids in this manner creates a hydrostatic head which assists in forcing liquid through the wire mesh screens 79 and 79 of the cells. t

Finally, the cane chips (disintegrated cane) which are inside of the cells 8', after they have travelled through the two maceration tanks 9 and 9 and just before they leave the last tank 9 pass under sprinkler 63 which introduces imbibition hot water and in this way themass of disintegrated cane is almost exhausted of sucrose and the mass of disintegrated cane is dischargedat point 78. From there the solid material goes to a unity mill or to a press to reduce the moisture so that it can be burned as fuel. The mills and presses are not shown because they are well known to those familiar with this industry.

The various advantages of the present invention may be summarized as follows:

(1) The cost of construction is about one-half of other similar diusors.

(2) The total length which is about 50% of the length of other diftusors.

(3) The cells used for diffusion turn 180 which makes the disintegrated cane chips change position from one maceration tank to another.

(4) Absolute certainty that all of the cells will receive the cane chips from a rotating feeder precisely at the time that the cells enter the first maceration tank.

(5) Absolute certainty that the maceration tanks will be clean by virtue of the oscillating scrapers which by their own weight and design will touch the bottom of the maceration tanks.

(6) Assurance that the imbibition within the maceration tanks will not only be uniformly distributed over the inside of the cells but also will have the proper temperature.

In conclusion, while there has been illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that since the various details of construction may obviously be varied considerably without really departing from the basic principles and teachings of this invention, I do not limit myself to the preciseconstructo encompass all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for diffusing cane or beet sugar comprising in combination:

(a) two interconnected maceration tanks located one above the other,

(b) an endless roller conveyor `chain passing through said tanks and being slideably supported therein by upper and lower rails,

(c) said roller conveyor chain supporting a plurality of `cells at a point approximately midway ybetween the top and bottom ends of said cells,

(d) `both the tops and bottoms of said cells being open,

(e) the rails associated with said conveyor means being curved adjacent the end of the maceration tanks so that the cells will be rotated through a vertical angle of approximately 180 in the course of their passage from one maceration tank to another,

(t) inlets and outlets for liquid and chips in said maceration tanks, and

(g) means for circulating liquid between said two interconnected maceration tanks.

2. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein both the top and 3. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rails `are curved adjacent the inlet for chips so that the cells have their upper open ends essentially abutting each other adjacent the point where cane chips are fed into said cells.

4. An apparatus of claim 3 wherein said cells are in the shape of a trapezoid when Viewed from the side.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 978,451 12/1910 Homans 127-43 1,555,432 9/1925 Olier 127-7 2,953,485 9/1960 De La Calle 127-6 FOREIGN PATENTS 29,961 9/ 1925 France.

851,176 10/l952 Germany.

857,930 12/1952 Germany.

916,880 8/1954 Germany.

93 6,499 12/ 1955 Germany.

MORRIS O. WOLK, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR DIFFUSING CANE OR BEET SUGAR COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) TWO INTERCONNECTED MACERATION TANKS LOCATED ONE ABOVE THE OTHER, (B) AN ENDLESS ROLLER CONVEYOR CHAIN PASSING THROUGH SAID TANKS AND BEING SLIDEABLY SUPPORTED THEREIN BY UPPER AND LOWER RAILS, (C) SAID ROLLER CONVEYOR CHAIN SUPPORTINA A PLURALITY OF CELLS AT A POINT APPROXIMATELY MIDWAY BETWEEN THE TOP AND BOTTOM ENDS OF SAID CELLS, (D) BOTH THE TOPS AND BOTTOMS OF SAID CELLS BEING OPEN, (E) THE RAILS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CONVEYOR MEANS BEING CURVED ADJACENT THE END OF THE MACERATION TANKS SO THAT THE CELLS WILL BE ROTATED THROUGH A VERTICAL ANGLE APPROXIMATELY 180* IN THE COURSE OF THEIR PASSAGE FROM ONE MACERATION TANKJ TO ANOTHER, (F) INLETS AND OUTLETS FOR LIQUID AND CHIPS IN SAID MACERATION TANKS, AND (G) MEANS FOR CIRCULATING LIQUID BETWEEN SAID TWO INTERCONNECTED MACERATION TANKS. 